1918 and World War One

World War One ended in November 1918. During 1918, two major offensives took place on the Western Front, both based on movement as opposed to the trench mentality of the previous years.

January 14th: Great Yarmouth bombarded by the German Navy.

January 24th: Russia rejected Lenin’s peace at all costs for Trotsky’s “no war, no peace.”

February 1st: Mutiny in the Austrian Navy at Cattaro.

February 18th: Germany resumed her war against Russia after the failure to secure a peace settlement.

February 24th: Russia accepted Germany’s peace terms.

March 3rd: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed between Germany and Russia.

March 21st: Germany broke through in the Somme at the start of its ‘Spring Offensive’. 65 divisions attacked along a 60-mile front. The German Air Service launched a major campaign against the Royal Flying Corps but it failed.

March 23rd: The Germans made major advances using Storm Troops. Paris was hit with long-range artillery. The British 5th Army suffered major losses.

March 28th: First signs seen that Germany’s offensive was losing its impetus with the failed attack on Arras.

March 29th: Marshal Foch was appointed Allied Commander on the Western Front.

April 1st: The Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Navy Air Service combined to form the Royal Air Force (RAF)

April 4th: The German Spring Offensive (the ‘Michael Offensive) petered out and the line stabilised.

April 9th: Germany started an offensive in Flanders.

April 21st: The German fighter ace, Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the ‘Red Baron’, was killed.

April 23rd: An Allied attack on the harbours of Zeebruge and Ostend (to block their use as bases for U-boats) took place but was only partially successful.

May 13th: The RAF formed a specific strategic bombing force.

May 24th: A British squadron landed at Murmansk.

May 30th: German troops reached the River Marne.

June 3rd: American forces at Chateau Thierry helped to end the German advance.

June 6th: American troops counter-attacked German forces at Belleau Wood.

June 25th: Last German troops forced out of Belleau Wood by the Americans.

July 9th: Flying ace James McCudden killed in a flying accident.

July 15th: Last major German offensive of the war when 52 divisions attacked in the Marne-Reims Offensive.

July 31st: British forces took Archangelsk in northern Russia.

July 15th: Second Battle of the Marne started, which saw the collapse of the German army on the Western Front.

July 26th: Flying ace Edward ‘Mick’ Mannock was killed in action.

August 1st: French forces occupied Soissons.

August 3rd: Germany completed her withdrawal from the Marne salient.

August 8th: The Allies continued their advance against the Germans. The RAF dropped 1,563 bombs and fired 122,150 rounds of ammunition in support of ground forces. This day is known as the “Black Day of the German Army”.

August 18th: A British offensive in Flanders began. A French offensive captured Aisne Heights.

August 21st: The British renewed their offensive on the Somme.

August 22nd: British forces captured Albert.

August 28th: Canadian troops broke through the Hindenburg Line.

August 29th: New Zealand troops occupied Baupanne.

September 2nd: Australian forces occupied Péronne. Canadian troops continued their advance past the Hindenburg Line.

September 12th: 1,476 Allied aircraft supported an US attack at St. Mihiel.

September 16th: US forces occupy St. Mihiel.

September 19th: Turkish forces collapsed at Megiddo.

September 26th: French and American forces started an offensive against German positions at Argonne.

September 27th: New British offensive started.

September 28th: Fourth Battle of Ypres started.

September 29th: Luderndorff asked for an immediate armistice.

October 1st: Damascus taken by Australian and Arab forces.

October 4th: Germany asked the Allies for an armistice based on Woodrow Wilson’s ‘Fourteen Points’.

October 9th: British troops advanced to the last line of trenches in the Hindenburg Line.